Neil Lennon rues missed chances at Ipswich

Manager says his side should have been out of sight by half time after defeat at Portman Road

Neil Lennon was left rueing missed opportunities as Bolton slipped to a narrow defeat against Ipswich at Portman Road on Tuesday evening.

Despite carving out a series of clear cut chances, particularly in the first half, the hosts would ultimately secure three points.

Jay Tabb’s scruffy effort on 79 minutes was the difference between the two sides.

“It’s endemic of our away form this season,” Lennon said after the game. “We can’t afford to be missing guilt edged chances like we have done this evening.

“Ipswich are a good side at home and the game was in the balance in the second half. We shouldn’t have allowed the game to get to that stage. We should have been home and hosed by half time.

“Even late on we had a great chance at the far post to equalise, but we’ve missed it.

“Nothing surprises me in football, but at the end of the game we’re left scratching our heads as to how we haven’t got something from the game.

“Generally speaking, our performance was very good. In Rochinha we had the best player on the pitch. If he sticks the chance he has in the net in the first half we’re talking about one of the goals of the season.

“We had a very young team out tonight and once again our youngsters acquitted themselves very well.

“The performances have been good, but once again we’ve come away from a game with nothing.

“We decided to rest a few players in Paddy McCarthy and Emile Heskey.

“Adam Le Fondre had been ill in the run up to kick off and in the end wasn’t able to make the bench. That was a blow, because I think he would have enjoyed himself out there tonight.”